Wow! It's been too long since we posted

Apologies to family and friends.

Ethan has been learning words faster than Superman can fly and getting into more mischief. He is definately keeping Adam and I super busy ... EVERY SECOND!It's a miracle that we have even managed to write our Christmas cards and go shopping for gifts. The wrapping of gifts only happens when he is asleep or else there will be torn wrapping paper everyewhere as he has learned how to open presents.

Here are some vids and pics from the last couple of weeks.

The first snow. (Dec 3rd))

Ethan in the bathtub relaxing and goofing off. (Dec 4th)

The video is an effort.to get him dressed. Which of course he refused to do- quite hilarious. The photo means we succeed in the end to get his onsie on. (Dec. 5th- morning)

Ethan's playgroup Christmas party. (Dec 5th-afternoon)

Ethan reading . (Dec. 8th)

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Ethan dancing and then farting. (Dec. 8th) We learned to do this at Uncle Jeff's and Aunty Kelsey's house. Whenever someone farts, we point at someone else and say you did it. This time while Ethan was dancing, he let out a fart (but you can't hear it on the video) - so funny!

Ethan's bare bum time. (Dec. 13th)

Hattie lets her daughter Clem have bare bum time and so I thought I would get over my issues with cleaning pee/poop off the floor and let Ethan have some bare bum time. HE LOVES IT. We started 3 days ago and the first time, he was grabbing his shirt and lifting it up, then he climbed onto the sofa and starting bouncing up and down and rubbing his bum all over the cushions. Then he got down and ran back and forth the living and dining room dancing and screaming in happiness. He only peed a bit the first time and the last two times the drops of wetness on the floor are from his drooling- yup.. still teething...

The past couple of days, he's slowed down and hasn't been eating as much and is also sleeping much better. Fingers crossed as Adam and I have had 3 full nights sleep. Maybe it's the bare bum time. The last week and a half has been a bit of a nightmare with Ethan waking 3 times during the night and fussing and two very cranky parents.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

He has also definately had a grown spurt as he was eating a ton a day. His 12-18months clothing is getting a bit tight and is hard for him when he tries to put his arms through the sleeves and I think his head has gotten bigger as his shirts sure do seem hard to get over his noggin. Not to mention his feet have lengthened and he is wearing UK size 5 shoes. When we first got to England in June, his feet were a size 3!!You wouldn't know by looking at him how much food he can stuff into that little mouth of his...

Words Ethan can say now.. the list is LONG.

Words include:

Wow!, Yeah!, No, beer(beard), knee, baf(bath), bappo(apple), toes(toast), weh wigh(wet wipes),fee(Feet), Wa wa?(What's that?), Pi pi (his bum), bappy(nappy-diaper), chair, Roar(Lion), up, down, Mamee bao bao(Pick me up mom), bye bye daddy, bed, pah pah pah, pahcorn(pop pop, pop, Popcorn- a song we sing to), beans, mommy's(this belongs to mommy), Daddy's(this belongs to daddy), me, you, shoes, joosh(juice), cheeth(cheese), hot hot hot, cold cold cold, milk, fung geng do(somersault), cookie, nose, mouf(mouth), graysh(grace- we say grace before we eat), book, bobbee(the Bee Bee bird book, he makes us read to him at night) tar (guitar- Baby Brains book he also makes up read to him), moon, shuuu pa (sound of fire works) figh wa(fireworks), bubbo(bubble wand/bubble tub), baf (bath), da dao (dinosaur), bib, - those are the ones he's just said this month so far as Adam can remember off the top of our heads. You can usually get him to repeat anything you ask him to say but it doesn't always makes sense. I'm sure i'm missing a ton but there is something new every day.

Things Ethan can understand: No, foot, hand, head, arm, toes, fingers, eyes, nose, What do you want to wear? (He will go and get his own socks, shirt and pants), Hwuan Pi pi (means to change his nappy which he will then run away and hide), almost anything you ask him, he will respond "no" or "ya" to or repeat the name of the object. Ex. Do you want to go for a walk? and Ethan will say "Wa! or Doguh ?(Which means walk or he wants to go for a walk to look for a dog). He retty much understands everything and if he doesn't he will ask you to explain. We really think it's important to give him good reasons for doing or not doing something.He often gets frustrated with us since he wants to tell us something but we have no idea what he wants. Adam and I usually look at each other to see if one of us can guess what he wants. Sometimes we do and often times we don't.If you say someone or something is sleeping, he will say "Shh!" he also says "Ssh" when I tell him daddy isn't home or working. He gets a bit confused about this.

Things he loves: (If you don't give it to him fast enough, he moves up and down in urgency like he is doing a pee pee dance)

Garlic bread, herb and garlic cream cheese on toast, juice, bananas, pretzels, chicken, yogurt, cake, cookies, chocolate, candy(You wouldn't know by looking at him how much food he can stuff into that little mouth of his... there are times Adam and I have caught him gagging because he tries to swallow without chewing it first).He enjoys the freedom of going for walks, walking or running or exploring the supermarket, shopping centre and car park... sometimes off the sidewalk into the road. (Aside:Adam and I laugh now how we used to say while I was pregnant with Ethan that we would never put a harness on him... boy are we sure glad we changed our minds...)

Naughty things:

• Sometimes he will get possessive of toys and not share or throw toys because he can't communicate what he wants.
• Sometimes, I make faces and he tries to wipe them away with his hands, swiping at me like a cat with a ball. He doesn't mean harm- its fun for him, a game- but can get painful as he's pretty strong. (He knows it's a no no)
• Unraveling the paper towel or toilet paper roll.
• Throwing bath toys- like a soaking wet sponge out of the bath.
• Running away when he needs a nappy change.
• Pulling my hair- highly entertaining to see a pained expression. (He know's its a no no)
• tries to bite my chin

Cute things he does:

• He will randomly come up to you while you are sitting down and give you a huge hug around your legs.
• He will dance by bouncing and pushing his tummy outand sticking his bum out and turning around.
• He will wake up and pounce on you repeatedly.
• He will all of sudden while you are holding him , put his head down and wrap his arms around you in a hug.
• The way he says WUH OW!!! (Wow) or bye bye (softly)
• He will grab his stuffy monkey, turtle, lion or dog and hug it close moving side to side.
• During bathtime as the water is let out, he will lie down on his tummy when the water is really low and swim.
• Entertaining himself in his high chair by shouting, and singing while eating.
• Putting my glasses over his eyes.

Well so far this is what Adam and I can remember. This weekend, we will be going to mama and papazee's to decorate the christmas tree. It will be interesting to see what trouble Ethan gets into.

Take care!